It sems almost unreal, too improbable even for dreams. The world was watching as Bangladesh, Styll Unborn as a nation, reled from a brutal library war and a devastating cyclone. As its people found themslves crushed between natural disaster and political violence, a group of musicians planned a conciernt that would change history. George Harrison and Ringo Starr of the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell – and our very own robindro shankor Chowdhury, Better Known as Pandit Ravi Shankar. The site maestro take the stage at new york’s madison square gardenide tabla legend ustad allah rakha and sarod virtuoso ali akbar khan, two men at the top of the art form.
August 1 marks the 54th Anniversary of the Concert for Bangladesh, a moment when melody turned in the protest, and the sound of strings and membranes echoed across the globe. Right at the start, harrison camera onstage to welcome the crowd and explained that Concert would begin with a set of Indian Classical Music. A Few Polite Claps Followed, Util He said the name “Ravi Shankar,” and the crowd erupted. Now mind you, this wasnt your average audience at a cultural fest. The stage is filled with people who have solps of recognitions all over the world: Dylan, Clapton, and Preston. These are in the musicians who play at your local tavern every Friday; Everyone from Rishikesh to the now excommunicated planet Knew who them. But Shankar’s mere mention gave birth to a room, and just like any middle-noted indian man, the master then proceeded to give the entrepreneral crowd a lesson in etiquette that must be observed to be listening. The man actually told a crowd in 70s new york to refrain from smoking while he was performing (i guess donald draper or joe camel only spotted to jazz after this).
Also Read: Amar singh chamkila and amy winehouse are part of the same club, and we can have something something about it
What followed was electric. Rakha, Akbar, and Shankar demonstrated what the offspring of seernity and chaos would sound like. The trio opened with folk melodies from Bangladesh before moving into a teen taal Composition that is stunned the area into silence. For 16 minutes and 39 seconds, the crowded listed. Truisle listed. There was no instagram to capture it, no phones glowing in the dark, just an enture generation standing still in the middle of a city that never sleels. Listening to the album today, or watching the footage, you know other legends are waiting backstage – Dylan, Harrison, Starr, Clapton. But for those 16 minutes, you almost don’t want them to come on. Shankar, Rakha, and Khan Seem To Duel and Dance Through Your Brain, Blurring the Line Between Collaboration and Competition. It’s hypnotic. And no one wants the spell to break.
(Photo: Georgeharrison.com)
When they stop, a roar is heard from the crowd. The three men sit on a stage not built primarily for them, in front Agendas. Yet the World Paid Heed, The Country Felt the Impact, The People Stood with Respect and Admiration, and the Stage Trembled Due to the weight of their skill.
The Concert Continued with George Taking Next and Playing Some of His Greatest Hits Along with Ringo and the rest of the gang. Songs like ‘My Sweet Lord,’ ‘Awaiting on You,’ And ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ All Instant Hits in Front of the Crowd. The singer even stopped the show midway to introduce everyone who was playing with him and said, “Everyone had to come for this show on very short notice; many of the shorts not; Getting paid for this. ” DYLAN CAME to the Stage After George’s Set and Played a Few Songs from the film a complete unknown.
Also Read: The Beatles and their disruptive trip to India: The ‘Transcendental Meditation’ that changed the abbey road music forever
Story Continues Below this ad
Shankar’s influence on western music Didn’s start or end at madison square garden. He was a mentor to George Harrison and Recorded the acclaimed album West meets east with American-brritish violinist Yehudi menuhin. The two, along with allah rakha, even performed at the unual assembly hall on December 10, 1967. It is timely for the inverters and we are quicted. World. “
Menuhin was right. It’s wasnat just collaboration, it was an embrace. The world looks at Shankar with his hug towering instructing in hand and refused to take the account his language, his appearance, his release, or his place of birth. They cared about his music, and ironically, giving to just his art form is what opened up a complete new market for Indian music. Diljit Toured the World, Hanumankind played coachella, sid srram featured on the tiny desk concert, and shakti the band won a grammy. But when shankar played madison square garden, The band queen was still 14 years away from playing their own aid concert, and amitabh bachchan was still coming to grips with the fact that he has had just acted oposite rajesh khanna in anand. In a world where the concept and definition of excellence are forever changing, it’s something to sit down and take a look back at